Trousers-stretcher.



,2 is a section on line 2 2, Fig. 1.

UNITED STATES fatented November 10, 19C3.

PATENT Grricn.

TROUSERS-TRETCH ER.

I SPECIFKCATION forming part of Letters PatentNo. 743,788, datedNovember 10, 1903.

Application filed May 6, 1903. Eeriel No. 155,885. (No model.)

To all whom it ntcty concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANKLIN H. Wool), a citizen of the Unitcd'States,residing at Wilkinsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented newand useful Improvements inTrousers-Stretchers, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in devices forcreasing and stretching trousers; and its object is to provide a simpledevice which may be readily placed in position and which is durable.

A further object is to provide a device which will not only crease thetrousers, but will remove any fullness in the knees thereof.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists inproviding a longitudinally-extending strip having curved arms integraltherewith and secured to a parallel strip. These arms serve to hold theouter parallel strips normally in contact with the intermediate strip,and therefore the trousers upon being placed betweenthe strips will bepressed thereby and creased. Clamps may be arranged upon the arms, so asto bind the strips upon the trousers,and stretching means mayalso beemployed for spreading the trousers-legs laterally.

The invention also consists in the further novel construction andcombination of parts hereinafter more fully described and claimed, andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing the preferred form ofmy invention, and in \vhich Figure l is an elevation showing myinvention in position upon a pair of trousers. Fig. Fig. 3 is a detailview of one of the intermediate strips. Fig. 4: is an end elevationthereof. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of one of the lateral stretchersused in connection with the device, and Fig. 6 is a detail view ofanother form of stretcher employed in connection therewith.

Referring to the figures by numerals of reference, 1 is a preferablymetallic strip having U-shaped arms 2 extending from opposite sidesthereof alternately, and each set of arms is adapted to be secured to apreferably wooden strip 3, which extends longitudinally of and parallelto the strip 1. The

I arms 2 are formed of spring metal and serve to hold the strips 3normally in contact with the opposite sides of strip 1, and in order tocrease the trousers the strips 3 are sprung away from the intermediatestrip 1 and the legs of the trousers inserted between said strips, asillustrated in Fig. 2. Two sets of strips are employed for forming thetwo creases in each trousers-leg, and, if desired, a yoke 4: may befastened to one of the strips 3 and provided with a set-screw 5, adaptedto bear upon the other strip, and thereby aid the spring-arms 2 inclamping the strips 3 upon the trousers.

In order to stretch the trousers laterally, I provide a bow-spring 6,the ends of which are hooked, as shown at 7, and extend into apertures8,'formed in the inner ends of the strips 3. This spring tends to forcethe two sets of strips away from each other, and therefore the upperportions of the trousers-leg swill be stretched laterally. In order tostretch the lower ends of the trousers-legs, I provide a bow-spring 9,having a fork 10 at each end, within which is arranged a clamping-screw11. The forks 10 are adapted to be placed over the ends of thetrousers-legsnear each crease therein, and by means of the screws 11these forks are clamped upon the trousers. It will of course beunderstood that the spring 9 will tend to stretch the lower ends pact inconstruction and can be readily attached to a pair of trousers.

In the foregoing description I have, shown the preferred form ofmyiuvention; but I do not limit myself thereto, as I am aware thatmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages thereof, and I therefore reserve theright to make such changes as fairly fall within the scope of myinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- V 1. Ina device of the character described, the combination with intermediatestrips having integral arms, and parallel strips connected to the armsof each of the intermediate strips; of bow-springs interposed betweenand connected to each set of parallel strips.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination withintermediate strips having U-shaped alternating integral arms andparallel strips connected to the arms of each of the'intermediatestrips; of bow-springs interposed between and connected to each of saidparallel arms.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination withintermediate strips having integral arms, parallel strips connected v tothe arms of the intermediate strips, yokes on the arms having set-screwsadapted to bear upon the parallel strips; of a spring in- C. W. MARTIN,J. B. FREASE.

